The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-03-03
THE NEW PARTY.

aaonts the Name OF 'CniOn-LabOr"-The
Platform.
C1xcISx.r1. Feb. 24-The chair called
the Industrial Conference to order at Ten
O'Clock Yesterday morning. The Commit
tee on Credentials made final report.
Mr.. Eaton, of Illinois, by unanimous con-
sent, offered a scheme for the organization
of the new party, outlining the Pian ioI
local club organization and accompanied ~
: with explanations.
Mrs. Elizabeth Culbertson, Of Michigan,
and Mrs. Z. v. Emery, also OF Micnlgan.
made addresses.
At the evening session Chairman Robert
Schilling, OF the Committee on Rest mtlons,
presented the report Of that committee. be
explained the long delay in preparing u OV
saving that the many interests involved anu
the many suggestions made, amounting 10
more than 200 in all. necessitated much time
| in agreeing upon a platform. Following IS
! the platform:
First-The delegates OF various industrial and
reform political organizations have assembled
from thirty-one States and Territories on TINS
anniversary of the birth Of the father OF his
/ country to view the situation of public affairs
and advise proper action. A general discomfort
prevails on the part OF the wealth producers.
Farmers are suffering from poverty which has
| forced most of them TO mortgage their estates
and prices Of products are so low as 10 ofser 10
relief except through bankruptcy. La5orers
are sinking into greater and greater dependence
Strikes are resorted 10 without bringing relief
because Of the Inability Of employers III many
| cases 10 pay living wages. while more and more
J are driven into the streets. Business men fnd
| collections almost impossible; meantime II y
dreds OF millions OF idle public money which -
needed for relief is locked up in the United
States Treasury III grim moclery o. the dis
tress; land monopoly fourishcs rs never before
/ and more and more owners OF the soil are daily
/ becoming tenants.
| Great transportation corporations still
| ceed in extorting their profits upon watcred
/ stock through unjust charges. The United
| States Senate has become an open scandal the
seats beng purchased by the rich in open defi-
ance OF the popular will. a tritiing dispute is.
! seized upon rs an excuse for squandering public
money upon unnecessary military preparations
which are designed 10 breed spirit Of war 10
ape European despotism and to empty the treas
ury without paying the public debt.
| Under these and other alarming conditions We
appeal to the people of the whole country TO
come out Of cid party organizations whose indif-
ference TO the public welfare i responsible for
this distress and help US organize new politi-
! cal party, not sectional, but national whose
members shall be called commOncrs; whose OBJ
ject shall be to repeal all class laws in favor of
the rich and TO relieve the distress OF our indus
! tries by establishing the following:
Every human being possesses a natural. in
alienable right to sufficient land for Sef-sUpport.
/ and we desire 10 secure to every industrious
citizen home. as the result free institutions.
| To this end we demand a graduated land tax or
all large estates especially those held for spec
/ ulative purposes; the reclamation OF all un-
| claimed land grants; the immediate opening Of
| Oklahoma 10 homestead settlement; the pur-
| chase OF all unoccuped Indian lands. and the
/ settlement of various tribes upon lands in sever
ffTfr
| acquiring real estate beyond the requirements
I of their business. and alien ownership O: Land.
! The systems If irrigation in States and TerritOr-
! les. where necessary, shall he under such public
| control as shall secure the free and equitable
use of the waters and franchises to the people.
The means of communication and transporta-
tion should be owned and controlled by the
| people. as is the United States postal system
and equitable rates everywhere established
| The establishment OF national monetary
| system in the interest of the producer instead
| of the speculator and usurper. by which a
| circulating medium in necessary quantity and
full legal tender, shall lie issued directly TO the
people, without the Intervention Of banks. or
| loaned TO the people upon ample security ut
! n low rate of interest to relieve them from the
| extortion of usurers and enable them 10 con
! troll the money supply. Postal savings banks
| should be established. We have free coinage
Of gold: we should have free coinage ot silver
/ We demand the prompt payment Of the national
! debt and condemn the further issue of interest
bearing bonds, either by the National Govern
ment o. by States, Territories, counties and
\ municipalities.
| Arbitration should take the place of strikes
| and other injurious methods OF settling labor
| disputes: the letting of convict labor TO con
| tractors should be prohibited; the contract sys-
| tenn be aboli shed in public works; the hours OF
| labor in industrial establishments be reduced
commensurate with the increase Of production
| in labOr-saying machinery; employees protected
| from bodily injury; equal pay being given for
equal work for both sexes, and labor and alsrcul
tural cooperative associations be fOstcred and
! INCORPORATED by law. The foundation Of re-
public is the intelligence OF its citizens. and
| children VINO are driven into workshops. mines
| and factories are deprived OF education which
| should be secured to all by proper legislation.
| We desire TO see labor organization extend
| throughout all civilized countries until IL shall
| be impossible for despots to array the working
men of one country in war against their brothers
| of another country.
! In appreciation OF the services OF the United
| State soldiers and sailors, we demand for them
| justice before charity. The purposely depre-
ciated money paid them during the war should
| be made equal in value 10 the gold paid the
| bOndholders The soldier was promised coin or
| its equivalent, and paid in deprecated paper
| The bondhOlder loaned the Government depre-
| ciatcd paper and contracted TO take II back, but
| was paid in gold.
| A graduated income tax is the most equitable
| system OF taxation. placing the burden on those
| who.can best afford to pay, instead OF laying II
| on farmers and producers and exempting mill
ionaire bondholders and corporations.
| The capture OF the United States Senate by
millionaires and tools OF corporations, who have
| no sympathy with free in stitutions. threatens
the very existence OF the republic. We demand
| constitutional amendment making United
States Senators elective by direct vote OF the
| people.
| State and national laws should be passed as
| shall effectualIy exclude from America the Mon
| golian slave and Asiatic competition
| The employment Of bodies OF armed men by
private corporations should be prohibited
| The right to vote is inherent 20 citizenship
| irrespecty OF sex.
| Excessive wealth, resulting in luxury and
idleness on one hand and excessive toll and
| poverty on the other. lead to intemperance-
| and vice. The measures OF reform here recon-
| mcnded will prove 10 be the scientific solution
| of the temperance question.
Mrs. Severance offered a substitute for
the suffrage amendment, declaring the
| right to vote is inherent to citizenship ire
spect1ve of SEX The substitute was
adopted by a three-fourths vote. The only
other section giving rise to extended debate
! was the temperance plank. After various
J substitutes had been rejected, the plank
| was adopted as offered in the majority.
| The minority was insignificant. The pre-
! amble, after being changed so as to make
the name Of the party Union Labor" was
adopted.
/ -
Adverse to Becks Bill.
-, An aIr 7-o